Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases beginning 11 April, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced on Sunday, 10 March. The results will be announced on 23 May.
Soon after the announcement of the dates, PM Modi took to Twitter, saying, "The Festival of democracy, Elections are here."
Here is the full election schedule:
- Phase 1: 11 April 2019
- Phase 2: 18 April 2019
- Phase 3: 23 April 2019
- Phase 4: 29 April 2019
- Phase 5: 6 May 2019
- Phase 6: 12 May 2019
- Phase 7: 19 May 2019
- Date of Counting: 23 May 2019
Elections in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha – will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.
Voting in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will take place in one phase on 11 April and in four phases in Odisha on 11, 18, 23 and 29 April.
The states of Bihar, UP and West Bengal will go to polls in seven phases. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir will vote in five phases.
With the election dates being announced, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force.
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